I never thought of declawing a cat, and after reading what really happens during this procedure, I wouldn't dream of it - I think it is something people are not as informed about as they should be......they aren't like fingernails, they are quite an integral part of the cat's anatomy---like pulling out your own fingers by the tendons and roots, if you can imagine that. If your cat would happen to find itself in a position of needing to defend itself (even a housecat can "escape" now and then) it would be a sad thing.

I find it interesting that dog claws can be just as destructive in other ways and no one ever speaks of declawing a dog. They don't climb curtains, but they can scratch floors, carpets, doors and screens...

There are other ways to live peacably with the kitty's natural state of being. As a rule, if they have their own "scratching places" they tend to leave the other stuff alone. Squirt water bottles can help. I've also had some luck with putting a little perfume where I don't want her.